Someone once said, “Faith sees the invisible; faith hears the inaudible; faith does the impossible.” But, what pathway does faith travel to see the impossible realized?

In 1 Kings 17, the nation of Israel is no longer experiencing the blessing of God in their lives and on their land. The people have followed their king, Ahab, into paganism and idolatry. But, in the midst of their national rebellion, God sends a prophet named Elijah to King Ahab. 1 Kings 17:1 says, “Now Elijah, who was from Tishbe in Gilead, told King Ahab, “As surely as the Lord, the God of Israel, lives—the God I serve—there will be no dew or rain during the next few years until I give the word!” And for three and a half years, it didn’t rain a drop. Finally, Elijah presents himself to King Ahab and challenges him and his false prophets to a showdown in order to prove that there is one true God. After God demonstrates his power by sending fire from heaven, there is national repentance, and Elijah tells King Ahab that the miracle of no rain is about to become the miracle of rain.

After more than three years of extreme drought, it had to seem totally impossible that rain could begin falling at a moment’s notice. So, what did Elijah do? What path did his faith take him? In 1 Kings 18:42, we read, “So Ahab went to eat and drink. But Elijah climbed to the top of Mount Carmel and bowed low to the ground and prayed with his face between his knees.” It seems clear that Elijah knows what God’s will is, but he also recognizes the necessity of praying God’s will into existence. And he does that by fasting. Notice that he sends Ahab to eat and drink, but he climbs Mount Carmel to pray. Verse 45 says, “And in a little while the heavens grew black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain.”

This story reminds us that simply knowing God’s will is not enough. God’s desire is that we would pray his will into existence in our lives. Whether you are believing for God to do the impossible in your life, your marriage, your family or your job, fasting and prayer is often the God-ordained pathway that faith travels to put your miracle in motion.

Scriptures

1 Kings 17:1 
And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the Lord God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.”

1 Kings 18:41-45 

And Elijah said unto Ahab, Get thee up, eat and drink; for there is a sound of abundance of rain. ⁴² So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees, ⁴³ And said to his servant, Go up now, look toward the sea. And he went up, and looked, and said, There is nothing. And he said, Go again seven times. ⁴⁴ And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man’s hand. And he said, Go up, say unto Ahab, Prepare thy chariot, and get thee down that the rain stop thee not. ⁴⁵ And it came to pass in the mean while, that the heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel.